Mountain View teen center project costs rise

By Jason Green

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted:
04/19/2013 12:43:25 AM PDT

Updated:
04/19/2013 01:35:06 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Mountain View Teen Center staff member Ruben Siordia, center, talks to teens in the computer room at the Mountain View Teen Center, also known as "The House," at 298 Escuela Ave. on Wednesday, April 17, 2013. The Mountain View City Council is moving forward with plans for a new teen center at the former site of Rock Church, 263 Escuela Ave., across the street from the current building.
(Kirstina Sangsahachart/ Daily News)

Despite higher than expected costs, a plan to create a new teen center in Mountain View is still on track.

The city council voted 5-2 late Tuesday night to increase the long-in-the-making project's $1.9 million budget by $700,000.

Costs have exploded as a result of numerous deficiencies discovered at the former home of Rock Church, 263 Escuela Ave., which the city purchased in 2009 to house the new teen center, according to a city staff report.

Dry rot, mold and insufficient structural bracing are just a few of the issues with the building. The roof is also leaky and the existing water lines can't support upgraded bathrooms.

In addition, the project design team's decision to relocate the front entrance to make the building more inviting has driven up costs.

The ballooning budget was concerning to council members, but most said they were comfortable dipping into a park land dedication in-lieu fund, as recommended by city staff, to bring the building up to snuff.

"It's unfortunate that some of these expenses and conditions weren't known as we went into the project," said Council Member Mike Kasperzak, "but I really do think we owe the youth in our community a quality center."

Vice Mayor Chris Clark agreed. Set to be called "The View," the new teen center will replace a cramped facility at 298 Escuela Ave. known as "The House."

"I think we should be willing to do whatever it takes to get this done as quickly as possible and to do it right so that we don't drag this process out and do it in a mediocre fashion," Clark said.

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But Mayor John Inks said he could not support shelling out another $700,000 for the project.

"This has become a very expensive proposition," Inks said, adding that the building itself cost more than $3 million.

Council Member Jac Siegel said he was in support of the new teen center, but voted against the additional expenditure because it would result in the loss of an overflow gravel parking lot for the adjacent and heavily used senior center.

Some of the funds will be used to create a paved parking lot with 15 spaces and a grass play area, according to the report.

Government watchdogs Don Bahl and Don Letcher also spoke out against increasing the project's budget. Letcher was troubled that the money was coming out of a fund to buy land for parks.

"We're losing parkland if you spend it on other things, especially pet projects," Letcher said.

Bahl, meanwhile, called on the city council to establish how it plans to fill the new teen center before spending more money.

"This isn't 'Field of Dreams' -- 'If you build it, they will come,'" Bahl argued. "I don't see anything in here where we've done anything to say what makes a successful teen center."

But Ray Uyeda, chair of the city's Youth Advisory Committee, said the investment would pay off in the long run.

"By approving the recommendation," she said, "this council will ensure that teens and teens of the future are going to have a place where they can not only intellectually achieve through tutoring programs, but also creatively relax and interact with students from all over Mountain View."